Unibody lifting and anchoring assembly

Abstract

A horizontally elongated lifting and anchoring assembly (to be used in pairs) for transverse disposition beneath a vehicle body to be engaged and lifted relative to a floor surface, the assembly being floor mounted for lateral shifting relative thereto. The assembly includes an upper elongated longitudinally extending lift member supported at its longitudinal mid-portion through the utilization of an air bag assembly and each end of the lift member includes a stand slidable therealong and provided with a clamp assembly for clamp engaging a corresponding vehicle body side pinch weld area. Also, floor stands are provided for each end of the lift member and are slidably engageable therewith and anchorable relative to floor anchored rails between which the lift assembly extends.

What is claimed as new is as follows: 
     
       1. A vehicle body lifting and anchoring assembly for use upon a support surface over which a vehicle to be repaired may be moved along a predetermined path, said assembly being adapted to be used in pairs, including an elongated horizontal support member to be disposed transverse to said path, supported from said surface and adjustably laterally shiftable along said path over said surface, an elongated horizontal lift member disposed above and generally paralleling said support member, fluid operated lift means interposed between the longitudinal mid-portions of said members for elevating said lift member relative to said support member, upstanding supports adjustably guidingly mounted on opposite end portions of said lift member for independent adjustable shifting therealong and including upper end portion clamp structures for clamp engaging and supporting corresponding opposite side body pinch weld ares of a vehicle body positioned along said path and over said members, said lift means and lift member including coacting means supporting said lift member from said lift means for rocking relative to said support member about a horizontal axis disposed at generally right angles relative to said lift member. 
     
     
       2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said fluid operated lift means comprises vertically extendable and retractable pneumatic air bag means. 
     
     
       3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said lift member includes an upwardly offset mid-portion between which and the longitudinal mid-portion of said support member said air bag means is connected. 
     
     
       4. The assembly of claim 2 including anti-rocking means connected between said support member and lift member yieldingly resisting rocking of said lift member relative to said support member. 
     
     
       5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein said anti-rocking means includes means operative to progressively yieldingly resist rocking of said lift member relative to said support member from a predetermined position disposed substantially parallel to said support member. 
     
     
       6. The assembly of claim 4 wherein said anti-rocking means includes means operatively associated with said lift means for automatically limiting upward movement of said lift member relative to said support member by said lift means. 
     
     
       7. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said lift member and supports include coacting lock means operable to releasably lock said supports in adjusted shifted positions along said lift member. 
     
     
       8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein said supports each include means operative to adjust the effective height thereof. 
     
     
       9. The assembly of claim 7 wherein said lock means includes set screw means operatively associated with said supports and lift member. 
     
     
       10. The assembly of claim 7 wherein said lock means includes wedge means operatively associated with said supports and lift member. 
     
     
       11. A vehicle body lifting and anchoring assembly for use upon a support surface over which a vehicle to be repaired may be moved along a predetermined path, said assembly being adapted to be used in pairs, including an elongated horizontal support member to be disposed transverse to said path, supported from said surface and adjustably laterally shiftable along said path over side surface, an elongated horizontal lift member disposed above and generally paralleling said support member, fluid operated lift means interposed between the longitudinal mid-portions of said members for elevating said lift member relative to said support member, upstanding supports adjustably guidingly mounted on opposite end portions of said lift member for independent adjustable shifting therealong and including upper end portion clamp structures for clamp engaging and supporting corresponding opposite side body pinch weld area of a vehicle body positioned along said path and over said members, said lift means and lift member including coacting means supporting said lift member from said lift means for rocking relative to said support member about a horizontal axis disposed at generally right angles relative to said lift member, a floor surface comprising said support surface and upon which said predetermined path is defined, a pair of parallel anchor rails anchored relative to said surface and disposed on opposite sides of and generally paralleling said path, said support member being shiftable transversely over said floor surface along and between said rails, said support member including pairs of opposite end guide portions spaced on opposite sides of the medial vertical plane of said support member guidingly associated with said rails against angular displacement of said support member about its longitudinal center axis relative to said rails. 
     
     
       12. The assembly of claim 11 including a pair of floor stands for support from and shifting along said floor surface and rails and slidably and guidingly engaged with opposite end portions of said lift member for adjustable positioning along and against angular displacement of said lift member about its longitudinal axis relative to said stands. 
     
     
       13. A vehicle body lifting and anchoring assembly for use upon a support surface over which a vehicle to be repaired may be moved along a predetermined path, said assembly being adapted to be used in pairs, including an elongated horizontal support member to be disposed transverse to said path, supported from said surface and adjustably laterally shiftable along said path over said surface, an elongated horizontal lift member disposed above and generally paralleling said support member, fluid operated lift means interposed between the longitudinal mid-portions of said members for elevating said lift member relative to said support member, upstanding supports adjustably guidingly mounted on opposite end portions of said lift member for independent adjustable shifting therelong and including upper end portion clamp structures for clamp engaging and supporting corresponding opposite side body pinch weld areas of a vehicle body positioned along said path and over said members, a floor surface comprising said support surface and upon which said predetermined path is defined, a pair of parallel anchor rails anchored relative to said surface and disposed on opposite sides of and generally paralleling said path, said support member being shiftable transversely over said floor surface, along and between said rails, a pair of floor stands for support from and shifting along said floor surface and rails and slidably and guidingly engaged with opposite end portions of said lift member for adjustable positioning along and against angular displacement of said lift member about its longitudinal axis relative to said stands, said stands including anchor means releasably anchorable relative to said anchor rails.